Monuments, Memory, and Identity: Constructing the Colonial Past in South Korea (Welten Ostasiens / Worlds of East Asia / Mondes de l'Extrême-Orient)

Between 1910 And 1945 Korea Was Subjected To Japanese Colonial Rule. Monuments, Memory, And Identity Investigates Ways How Postcolonial South Korea Commemorated This Difficult Past In Light Of Changing Political And Social Conditions, And Against The Background Of The Divided Nation. By Analyzing Museums, Memorial Halls, Parks And Monuments, The Author Deciphers And Maps The South Korean Commemorative Landscape. He Analyzes The Layouts Of The Countryʹs Well-known Sites Of Memory And Explores The On-site Plaques, Exhibits, And Photos As Well As The Booklets And Publications. This Book Underpins The Shifts And Trends In Recollecting This Important Historical Period By Addressing The Following Questions: How Has Postcolonial South Korea Been Constructing And Reconstructing Its Colonial Past? Why Were Certain Narratives And Images Chosen At Different Times? What Debates, Controversies, And Challenges Were Involved In This Dynamic Process? Furthermore, The Author Discusses The South Korean Case Within The Broader Context Of The Postcolonial Discourse. -- Back Cover. Roots Constructed -- The Face Of Colonialism -- The Struggle -- The Structure Of Patriotism -- Conclusion : Tangible History In South Korea : Its Feaures And Politics. Guy Podoler. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 251-266) And Index. Contents Acknowledgements 7 Notes on Transliteration, Translation, and Photographs 9 Introduction 11 Historical Memory and Tangible History 13 Images of the Colonial Past 18 Chapter 1: Roots Constructed 23 Politics of Korea’s Foundation Myth 24 Tangible Origins 34 Constructing the Heroic Past 52 Conclusion: The Historical Crossroad of Change 66 Chapter 2: The Face of Colonialism 71 Life under Colonial Rule: Facing Colonial Modernity 72 The Brutal Occupier 84 Stain of Collaboration 102 Colonialism Made of Stone 117 Conclusion: Morality, Legitimacy, Continuity 124 Chapter 3: The Struggle 129 A Nation Rises 130 Active Physical Resistance 145 Moderate Struggle 160 Conclusion: Valor and Legitimacy 170 Chapter 4: The Structure of Patriotism 175 Patriotism: The Emotional Linchpin of Nationalism 176 South Korean Language of Patriotism 179 By Gun and Bombs 189 Korea’s Joan of Arc 207 Complicated Nationalism 213 Conclusion: Politics of Post-colonial Filial Piety 228 Conclusion: Tangible History in South Korea – Its Features and Politics 235 Bibliography 251 Index 267 Between 1910 and 1945 Korea was subjected to Japanese colonial rule. Monuments, Memory, and Identity investigates ways how postcolonial South Korea commemorated this difficult past in light of changing political and social conditions, and against the background of the divided nation. By analyzing museums, memorial halls, parks and monuments, the author deciphers and maps the South Korean commemorative landscape. He analyzes the layouts of the country’s well-known «sites of memory» and explores the on-site plaques, exhibits, and photos as well as the booklets and publications. This book underpins the shifts and trends in recollecting this important historical period by addressing the following questions: How has postcolonial South Korea been constructing and reconstructing its colonial past? Why were certain narratives and images chosen at different times? What debates, controversies, and challenges were involved in this dynamic process? Furthermore, the author discusses the South Korean case within the broader context of the postcolonial discourse. How has postcolonial South Korea been constructing and reconstructing its colonial past? Why were certain narratives and images chosen at different times? What debates, controversies, and challenges were involved in this dynamic process? This book deals with these questions.